CF

CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Admissions policy

for the entry of students in 2019

CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

ADMISSIONS POLICY

1. Introduction Caistor Grammar School is a co-educational 11 to 18 selective school. The school became Grant Maintained in September 1991, when the school's admissions policy was included in the school's proposals for Acquisition of Grant Maintained Status. It became a Foundation School on September 1st 1999 and an Academy on 1st December 2010. The school follows the Lincolnshire County Co-ordinated Admission Scheme. This policy incorporates its terms as they may be amended. Arrangements for applications for places in Year 7 at Caistor Grammar School will be made in accordance with Lincolnshire County Council's co-ordinated admission arrangements; parents resident in Lincolnshire can apply online at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions, they can also apply by telephone, or ask for a hard copy application form, by telephoning 01522 782030. Parents resident in other areas must apply through their home local authority. Caistor Grammar School will use the Lincolnshire County Council's timetable published online for these applications and the relevant Local Authority will make the offers of places on their behalf as required by the School Admissions Code.

2. The Admissions Authority The school's Governing Body is the admissions authority for Caistor Grammar School, responsible for both admissions and administering Independent Appeals. The school views all applicants as potential pupils and treats their application on an individual basis. The school aims to meet the needs of each individual applicant, based on evidence supplied to the school.

3. Selection Procedures Applicants will take Verbal Reasoning tests in the Autumn Term of Year 6. The School will administer these tests. Only children who attain a total score of 220 or more in the tests will be eligible for entry. This corresponds to the county-wide standard required in Lincolnshire for entry to LEA grammar schools and is designed to select the upper 25% of the ability range.

4. Planned Admissions Limit for Keystage 3 The number of intended admissions for entry into Year 7 in September 2019 will be 100 pupils.

5. Over-subscription In accordance with legislation the allocation of places for children with the following will take place first; Statement of Special Educational Needs (Education Act 1996) or Education, Health and Care Plan (Children and Families Act 2014). Remaining places will be allocated in accordance with this policy. When the number of applicants eligible for admission exceeds the number of places available for entry into Year 7 or at any time during Key Stage 3, the following method of determining priority will be followed:

5.1 Qualified candidates who are in Public Care (Looked After Children), will be considered first in the allocation of places. A child in public care, sometimes referred to as ‘looked after’ is a child who is in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989, at the time of application. This definition includes previously looked after children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order.

This includes children who were adopted under the Adoption Act 1976 (see section 12 adoption orders) and children who were adopted under the Adoption and Childrens Act 2002 (see section 46 adoption orders).

Child arrangements orders are defined in s.8 of the Children Act 1989, as amended by s.12 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Child arrangements orders replace residence orders and any residence order in force prior to 22 April 2014 is deemed to be a child arrangements order.

Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians).

5.2 Qualified candidates who reside (the Governors define being resident as sleeping at least 5 nights out of every seven during Term Time) and whose principal residency is within 6.5 miles in a straight line distance from the Head Master’s Office to the applicant’s residence (as defined as above). A map can be viewed at the School during the Open Evening. If it is not possible to view the map, the school will check any queries over catchment status, providing the necessary information Post code and/or grid references are supplied by the parents. Such children are defined as “in catchment” candidates. Should there be need to establish priority within this category, it will go to the applicants with the higher V.R. scores.

5.3 Priority between children who do not fall into the above category (5.2) will go to the applicants with the higher V.R. scores.

5.4 In the case of a tie, the following criteria shall apply: we shall calculate the mean rank position and, if there is still a tie, we shall take the highest individual score on the written test. If a tie still exists, we take the least number of mistakes made on the written paper.

5.5 Places will be offered, by the Local Authority in the case of year 6 pupils otherwise by the school, to successful candidates using a ranked list created by the school using the criteria listed in 3 and 5.1 to 5.4.

5.6 The date of determining whether a pupil qualifies as an in-catchment applicant on the basis of residence will be 1st September of the year preceding entry. In order for in- catchment status to be retained, residence must be continuous in catchment after this date. Parents of candidates or students whose in catchment residence changes are expected to contact the Headmaster straight away. The parents of candidates claiming in-catchment status will be asked to provide evidence in support of their claim for in- catchment status. The minimum evidence will be either a copy of the electoral roll or a copy of a driving licence as well as one other piece of evidence which could be a utility bill. All of which must have the address of the property which is in-catchment. If untruthful information is provided, this will be deemed by the Governors as sufficient cause to withdraw any place or offer of a place gained on the basis of a claim of in- catchment status.

5.7 Any successful candidate claiming in-catchment status after 1st September of the year preceding entry will be placed on the in-catchment section of the waiting list a year from when they began residing in catchment(as defined in Section 5.3 above).We wish to give priority to our local children, who have a reasonable expectation of going to a Grammar School, therefore we expect a full year of in-catchment residency. However the governing body will review individual cases on their own merits, these include the children of ‘travellers’ and of UK Service personnel and other Crown servants and reserve the right to grant in-catchment status in such circumstances, providing the necessary evidence is supplied.

5.8 Parents may seek a place for their child outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health. Parents wishing to make these requests must contact the School for guidance on the procedure to follow. It is important for parents to note that they will have the opportunity and responsibility to provide whatever evidence they wish to support their request. The Governors of Caistor Grammar School will make decisions on the basis of the circumstances of each case and in the best interests of the child concerned. This will include taking account of: the parent(s)’ views; any available information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development; where relevant, their medical history and the views of a medical professional; whether they have previously been educated out of their normal age group; any evidence that the child may naturally have fallen into a lower age group; the views of the child's current head teacher.

6. Deadlines for Applications for taking the tests

The deadline for applications for taking the tests is the 31st August of the year preceding entry. Applications will be accepted from the beginning of the summer term. Early applications will not be used as a criterion for giving priority in allocating places. If new candidates for entry apply after the entrance tests in the Autumn Term of the year preceding entry, they will be able to sit the appropriate entrance tests (two verbal reasoning Tests). An alternative date will be arranged by the school.

7. Entry into other School years and Waiting Lists

7.1 Prior to entry to Year 7 Lincolnshire Authority Schools Admission Team will keep a reserve list until the end of August, when control of admissions will be passed to the school. After this the school admissions code requires that schools keep the reserve list until the end of the Autumn Term. The school will then apply its own waiting list as defined in section 7.2. Waiting lists are liable to change when new candidates qualify for a place.

7.2 The School will keep a waiting list of the names of eligible applicants who have not been allocated a place at the School, regardless of whether they have appealed, ranked in descending order according to the School's admissions criteria. Parents whose children are on the waiting list may be told their position on the waiting list. Waiting lists are liable to change when new candidates qualify for a place.

7.3 During the year prior to entry to Year 7, if new candidates for entry apply after the entrance tests in the Autumn Term, they will be able to sit the appropriate entrance tests (two verbal reasoning Tests) either during the Spring Term or during the Summer Term and will be offered a place or placed on the waiting list in line with the usual criteria by the school admission team of the local authority, if they gain the qualifying score. If the dates given by the school are not convenient the school will under special circumstances grant alternative testing times.

7.4 If a place becomes available in years 7 to 9, a place may be offered to the applicant who is at the top of the waiting list, for that year group.

7.5 When new candidates, who are in Key Stage 3, apply for a place in Year 8 or Year 9 they will be able to sit the appropriate entrance tests (two Verbal Reasoning tests) either during the Spring Term or during the Summer Term. If the dates given by the school are not convenient the school will under special circumstances grant alternative testing times. They will be offered a place or placed on the waiting list in line with the usual criteria, if they gain the qualifying score. Their place on the waiting lists is determined by any special need (section 9) and their catchment status, section 5.3 and their score on the appropriate entrance tests. Waiting lists are liable to change when new candidates qualify for a place.

7.6 All candidates who have taken the tests, may not sit the entrance test again during Key Stage 3, and the original results will stand for three years, up to and including admissions into Year 9, except under extenuating circumstances and at the Governing Body’s discretion.

7.7 Applicants who wish to be considered for a place in year 10, if a place is available, will take a new verbal reasoning test and sit papers in Mathematics and English set by the School. To be eligible for entry applicants will need to have attained a score of 110 or more and to have scored a mark of 75% or more in both the Mathematics and English Papers. In the event of over subscription, sections 5.1 to 5.3 will apply and such candidates will be given first priority. Should there be need to establish priority with either the in-catchment or out of catchment criteria, it will go to the applicants with the higher verbal reasoning score.

7.8 For late intake applications and mid year applications from UK service personnel the School will aim to remove any disadvantage to them by applying the schools oversubscription criteria, 5.2 and 5.3. We will check to see if their ranked position based on the School’s admission Policy is higher than the last child admitted in the last admission round that was oversubscribed on offer day. If the ranked position is higher the School will consider admitting providing all children in public care and siblings have already been admitted. This will be irrespective of the fact that the school has had appeals heard or appeals currently being scheduled. It maybe that the School still cannot admit because of organisational or curriculum difficulties within the school.

8. Admission to the Sixth Form

8.1 It is the policy of the Governing body supported by the Local Authority that all pupils who are in Year 11 at Caistor Grammar School will be offered a place into Year 12 providing that they meet minimum requirements set out in 8.2.

8.2 All applicants will have at least a GCSE grade 4 in Mathematics and in either English Language or English Literature. It will also be required to have gained 4 GCSE passes at either grade 9 to 6, with a minimum of a grade 6 in each of the subjects to be studied at A level.

Additionally, applicants will have to meet the minimum requirements for individual subjects as set out in the Sixth Form prospectus.

8.3 Pupils who are automatically transferring from Year 11 of Caistor Grammar School to the sixth form will be given priority over the allocation of courses. In the case of over subscription in a course priority will be given to those students with the highest average capped GCSE point score. The score will be capped at the highest eight GCSE grades.

8.4 In-catchment status does not apply to Sixth Form entry. The planned admissions number for new entry into Year 12 is 6. Applicants will need to meet the requirements set out in 8.2. In the case of over subscription priority will be given to those students with the highest average capped GCSE point score. The score will be capped at the highest eight GCSE grades. However the School will try to admit more students from other establishments providing that the combination of subjects work. In the case of over subscription in a course, priority will be given to those external students with the highest average capped GCSE point score.

9 Candidates with special needs

Qualified candidates who are in public care, (Looked After Children ) CIPC, or children who have statements of Special Educational Needs, or an Education Health Care Plan will be considered first in the allocation of places. If no place is available these candidates will be considered before anyone else on the waiting list.

10. Appeals

10.1 The Appeals procedure is set out below. 10.2 – 10.5 deals with the procedure when a place has not been offered. 10.6 deals with the procedure when a place has been offered and is under threat of withdrawal (see section 5.7)

10.2 The Appeals procedure is entirely separate from the Admissions procedure. Places given on appeal are intended to be in addition to places offered up to the published admissions limit.

10.3 The appeals will be heard by an Independent Appeals Panel, the membership of which will comply with the DFE requirements.

10.4 Parents will be informed of their right to appeal, when notified that their child has not been awarded a place. This will be from the County if applying for a place into Year 7 or from the school for other years. When parents are informed of their right to appeal there will be a time-scale stipulated on the letter, by which they are to write an intent to appeal to the clerk of the appeal panel. Parents can submit supporting evidence such as school work and a Head teacher’s report. At the hearing, the parents may be accompanied by the child's Head teacher or such a friend/advisor as they deem appropriate.

10.5 The decisions of the Independent Appeals Panel are binding on the Governing Body and the appellants.

10.6 When a place previously offered by the school is under threat of withdrawal (under section 5.7 above) the parents of the candidate will be given the opportunity to make representations at a meeting of the Admissions Committee, which will comprise three Governors. Should the Committee withdraw the place, then the procedure set out in 10.2 – 10.5 above will apply with the candidate’s parents being able to put their case before the independent Admission Appeal Panel.

11. Fair Access Local Authorities are required to have Fair Access Protocols in order to make sure that unplaced children who live in the home local authority, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. This includes admitting children above the published admissions number to schools that are already full.

12. Publication of Information about Admissions

12.1 Information about the Admissions procedure and Appeals will be up-dated annually and will be included in the School's prospectus as well as on the School’s website.

12.2 The information will include the number of pupils the School plans to admit, an explanation of the admissions functions of the governors and a clear statement of the admission criteria.

13. Changes to the Admissions Arrangements

Any changes to the School's Admissions arrangements will be approved by the Governing Body, following the procedures set out in accordance with current DfE regulations.

This policy was reviewed and approved by the Full Governing Body on 9th October 2017. Amended on 4th December 2017.